Background information

If you’re interested in expanding your business into Sweden, don’t make the costly mistake of neglecting to get a professional translator, preferably one certified by the MITI or a similar organization.

I say “costly mistake” because trying to save money on Swedish translations can result in a lot of missed revenue. It may lead to a less than optimal, or even an unprofessional impression with a bad translation that doesn’t resonate with your target market.

This can make the difference between success and failure. A better way of saving money on translation costs is to provide your translator with clarifying information.

Some of my clients provide almost too much information, making it hard to sift through and get started. Others provide too little, making it hard to know what style is expected etc. Here are some guidelines to providing key info for your translator.

Top 3 key info for your translator

Target market

In many languages, different words are used depending on your audience. You might use different pronouns for speaking to children, for example, than you would use if you were speaking to adults. You’re buying translation services, so use the expertise of your translator, who knows this and a myriad of other subtleties of language. By telling her as much as you can about your target market, you’ll be allowing her to make decisions on syntax you haven’t thought of or might not be aware of.

Explanations and style

Every day at work, you use words that are familiar to you but mysterious to anyone who doesn’t do the kind of work you do.An accountant speaks of “costs” for example and distinguishes between “variable costs,” those that change proportional to the volume you produce and “fixed costs,” those that don‘t.He may further distinguish between “standby fixed costs,” those that occur by simply owning a factory and “program fixed costs,” those that are locked in once you decide whether to operate two shifts or one, for example.

If it’s necessary or useful to use some jargon that your translator may not be familiar with in your copy, explain it. Have your copy read by someone outside your field to point out jargon that you may not even be aware you’re using.

Timeline that accounts for QA

English is a complex language with lots of rules of grammar. You think it’s easy because you speak it every day, generally with people who live near you and have the same level of education you have. But you could be making technical mistakes every day that don’t interfere with communication because they are generally accepted by you and your peers, but can shipwreck an exact translation. Get your English copy read by someone who understands the subjunctive case before you invest in translating it. And be sure to provide your translator a reasonable amount of time to complete proofreading and quality checks!

A checklist of key info for your translator

1. The text in editable format is preferred, so I can use a translation memory tool. This will ensure consistency for both current material, old material, and future material.
2. Information on the end client is, preferred style, whether the material will be published externally or if it is internal company communication.
3. A reasonable deadline. A professional translator translates on average about 2,500 words per day with good quality.
4. Whether the text will be proofread/edited by a second linguist or not, or if I should find a proofreader/editor for the text.
5. If possible, provide a glossary with preferred terms, definitions of acronyms and proper nouns that should be left untranslated
6. A purchase order stating the agreed rate for the project, deadline, payment terms, your address and contact information
7. An email address and/or a telephone number to a contact person who will be available to answer questions that might arise during the translation process
8. Any feedback from the client after they have received the translation

Hire a professional English-Swedish translator

Using a professional translator is akin to hiring a professional electrician; it may cost a little more to pay someone for something you think you can get done cheaper. However, is it cheaper if your house burns down because of something a professional would avoid?

Save money on professional translations by providing key info for your translator and a clear explanation of your target market and goals.